Removal of Chloroform from Hydrochloride Acid Solution Using Fine Powder of Polymer as Adsorbent

In order to choose a suitable adsorbent for the removal of chloroform from its hydrochloric acid solution, the adsorptive ability of some polymer adsorbents was investigated in terms of their adsorption curves in water and 20% hydrochloric acid solutions at 298.15 K, and compared with that of active carbon (AC) and solid paraffin (SP). The adsorbents studied include the fine powders of chlorinated rubber (CR), polypropylene (PP), chlorinated polypropylene (CPP) and polyvinylchloride (PVC). The results showed that the adsorption behavior followed the Langmuir equation and the adsorption ability of these adsorbents followed the order AC>PVC>CR>PP>CPP>SP. This order is basically in line with the decrease of chloro-content of the adsorbents from PVC to SP. The adsorptivity of PVC and CR was nearly equivalent to that of AC with their saturated adsorption being about 1.4 g-CHCl₃ (g-absorbent)⁻¹. For all adsorbents studied, the adsorption capacity always decreases with the increase of hydrochloric acid concentration. It is showed that the commercial polymer powder of PVC or CR can be used as an efficient absorbent for the removal of chloroform from its aqueous solution for its low cost, good adsorption ability and ease of thermal desorption for recycling.